Pivotable turret with a firing weapon arranged eccentrically

ABSTRACT

A turret is mounted for rotation on a foundation and provided with an eccentrically mounted gun. In order to prevent the turret from traversing when the gun is fired or is being restored after recoil, the device is provided with a friction shoe which is engageable with a friction member fixed on the foundation. A lever arrangement is provided, which, during recoil and counterrecoil, presses the friction shoe against the friction member and prevents the turning of the turret. The arrangement includes a link structure which has bosses engageable with the friction shoe on turning in either direction and springs for positioning the friction shoe and the lever.

United States Patent Agren et al.

[ 51 Sept. 24, 1974 PIVOTABLE TURRET WITH A FIRING WEAPON ARRANGED ECCENTRICALLY [73] Assignee: AB Hagglund & Soner,

Ornskoldsvik, Sweden [22] Filed: May 2, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 356,487

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data May 5, 1972 Sweden 5938/72 [52] US. Cl. 89/37 H [51] Int. Cl F4lf 21/00 [58] Field of Search 89/36 H, 36 K, 37 R, 37 H [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,l26,79l 3/1964 Chiabrandy 89/37 H 3,430,534 3/l969 Agren 89/37 H Primary Examiner-Stephen C. Bentley [5 7 ABSTRACT A turret is mounted for rotation on a foundation and provided with an eccentrically mounted gun. In order to prevent the turret from traversing when the gun is fired or is being restored after recoil, the device is provided with a friction shoe which is engageable with a friction member fixed on the foundation. A lever arrangement is provided, which, during recoil and counterrecoil, presses the friction shoe against the friction member and prevents the turning of the turret. The arrangement includes a link structure which has bosses engageable with the friction shoe on turning in either direction and springs for positioning the friction shoe and the lever.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED SHEET 1m 3 3.837. 260

Fig.

4 3,837.26 PATENTEDSEPZMQ] sum 20F 3 Fig 2 21/ PIVOTABLE TURRET WITH A FIRING WEAPON ARRANGED ECCENTRICALLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a pivotable turret with a firing weapon arranged eccentrically and a means for preventing turret traversing caused by torque deriving from the recoil or counter-recoil force of said weapon.

2. The Prior Art A known device for compensating turret traversing caused by the recoil force of a weapon arranged eccentrically in a pivotable turret is characterised in that the weapon is connected by means of a spring link to a swinging bracket arranged through a transfer coupling member to turn a driving wheel, for example a toothed gear which is in engagement with a member to be driven, for example a toothed rim secured onto an object carrying the turret, for example a tank.

However, such a device has limitations since it only takes care of the recoil force and not the counter-recoil force. This means that the turret traversing must be under-compensated and the turret subject to movement in the same direction as the recoil force, after which there is a return movement when the weapon counter-recoils. Furthermore, the device is such that the recoil force does not pass directly to the compensator, but is taken up partly by a spring separate from the compensator and. when ammunition is used having charges of different strength, the spring must be reset.

This limits the use of the weapon to only one type of ammunition for a certain setting of the spring.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Whereas the previously known device is based on a balance being achieved between the recoil force and a form of counter force with the help of toothed wheels, the invention is based on present the use of a regular braking means which secures the turret to the foundation and in which the braking force is obtained directly from the recoil and counter recoil force. The braking means in itself is already known, but is influenced by an operating device which is activated prior to firing so that continued lateral directioning of the turret during automatic firing is not possible. The weapon turret according to the invention includes a lever arrangement connected to the gun and actuated during recoil and counter-recoil a friction shoe which engages a friction surface secured to the foundation. The lever and the shoe are centered by springs or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings showing examples of the object of the invention. FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a weapon turret with weapon and braking means arranged therein, while FIGS. 2 and 3 show another embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the device shown in FIG. 1, is a weapon turret located on a tank, for example. A weapon l1 for example a quick-firing weapon is placed in the turret 10. Because of the lack of space the weapon is not placed in the centre of the turret, but is somewhat displaced laterally, more specifically at a distance a from the centre C of the turret. If the weapon 11 were rigidly secured in this position in the turret 10, it would be caused to pivot clockwise by a recoil force and counter-clockwise by a counter-recoil force because of the torque. The object of the invention is to eliminate this effect of the recoil and counter-recoil force and to counteract the torque by mounting the weapon 11 in such a way that said forces are compensated. The weapon is therefore connected either directly or through a double-acting spring unit 12 to a connecting arm 13 arranged pivotably on a schematically shown compensator, for example a compensating lever 14, and is centred in lever 14 by means of two centering springs 15, 16. The compensating lever 14 is in turn suitably pivotable in the centre C of the turret and, in relation to the turret 10, is centred by two restoring springs 17, 18 located between an easily displaced activating member, for example a block 19, arranged on the compensating lever 14, and two bosses 20, 21 on the turret 10. In its neutral position, the weapon 11 is thus centred with the help of the doubleacting spring unit 12, centering springs 15, 16 and restoring springs 17, 18. Upon a recoil or counter recoil from the weapon 11, the purpose of the connecting arm 13 is to influence the block 19 by way of a first or second boss 13 a, 13 b, so that the block is clamped against a receiving member, for example a friction surface 22 placed on the object carrying the turret 10.

The device has a double-acting function and locks the turret 10 against the friction surface 22 for either recoil or counter recoil forces from the weapon 1 1. Another possibility is for two braking blocks to be influenced by the recoil force and the counter recoil force, respectively.

When the weapon 11 is not used for firing, the connecting arm 13 and compensating lever 14 are in neutral position, the position shown in the drawing, so that the turret can be turned without being affected by forces from the weapon 1 1. When firing in a firing position without lateral directioning of the turret 10, the recoil force from the weapon acts by way of the spring unit 12 on the connecting arm 13. The spring unit 12 is double-acting to dampen the initial force caused by recoil or counter recoil of the weapon. The pressure produced by the spring unit 12 influences the connecting arm 13 and endeavours to turn this counterclockwise. However, in the first instant it is met by counter force from the centering springs 15, 16. During continued counter clock-wise movement of the connecting arm 13, its boss 13 a is pressed against the connecting block 19 and clamps the block against the friction surface 22, thus locking the turret 10 with respect to the tank. A force counteracting the recoil is thus obtained and neither the turret 10 nor the weapon 11 has altered direction because of the recoil force. The restoring springs 17, 18 have greater tension than the force required to compress either of the centering springs 15, 16. This is so that the restoring springs 17, 18 will not be affected by the centering springs during the actual locking process. The direct torque caused by the recoil and exerted on the turret is of the following magnitude The choice of the pivot point for the compensating lever 14 is dependent on the forces existing in the various springs 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 before and after activation of the connecting block 19. When the force developed in the spring 12 is less than the counter-force developed in the centering springs 15, 16, the weapon l1 resumes its normal position at the same time as the centering springs 15, 16 return the connecting arm 13 to its neutral position. The connecting block 19 is then re leased from the friction surface 22 and "the turret can be turned to a new firing position as desired.

In the case of a counter-recoil force from the weapon 11, the process is similar to that described above except that the other boss 13 b of the connecting arm 13 clamps the connecting block 19 against the friction surface 22.

In order to permit continuous lateral directioning of the turret 10 during firing, the restoring springs 17, 18 have been added. When the connecting block 19 is pressed against the friction surface 22 upon the occurrence of recoil or counter recoil and lateral directioning is performed, one of the two restoring springs 17, 18 is compressed. Which of the two springs is compressed depends on in the direction in which the weapon 11 and thus also the turret 10 is aimed. The lateral directioning and compression of one of the restoring springs 17 or 18 thus caused results in the block 19, and with it the compensating arm 14 and connecting arm 13, assuming a position slightly displaced in relation to the turret 10. Each time the force from the weapon l1 ceases, the connecting block 19, compensating lever 14 and thus also the connecting arm 13 and weapon 11, return to their normal positions due to the action of the restoring springs l7, 18.

Since the duration of the force pulses is a small fraction of the time between two shots, very little alteration of the restoring springs 17, 18 is obtained if the turret is moved while firing.

Duration of recoil for example H50 5 Turret pivoting for example /s Influence on the restoring springs 17, 18 is thus 20/50 0.4".

On one or a pair of brackets 27 in the turret is a shaft 28 for a toothed wheel 26 which is in engagement with the toothed rim 25 and can pivot freely on the shaft 28. The weapon 11 is connected by the links 30, 31 to the link arm 29 on the shaft 28. The link arm 31 is suitably in the form of a resilient shock absorber correspondingly to the spring 12in FIG. 1. The link arm 29 can rotate on the shaft 28 and acts as an operating arm for a friction coupling or the like between the shaft 28 and the toothed wheel 26. In this way the recoil and counter recoil force from the weapon will be transmitted to the link arm 29 and the toothed wheel 26 will be locked rigidly on the shaft 28. This in turn causes the turret to be blocked with respect to the toothed rim 25 so that turret traversing due to recoil or counter recoil is prevented.

Just as in FIG. 1 there should be a spring means between the turret 10 and the shaft 28 to permit substantially continuous pivoting of the turret while this is being aimed during firing.

The connection between toothed wheel 26, shaft 28 and links 29 may be as shown in FIG. 3, for example. This is clearly a form of free-wheel coupling by means of a combination of axial and pivoting forces.

The shaft 28 is journalled by means of ball-bearings in brackets 27, 27' in the turret 10. In the middle of the shaft is a flange 32, below which is a flat disc 33. This is provided with pins 35 which can move in oblong slots 34 in the turret itself. The disc 33 is thus prevented from turning with respect to the turret but it can move vertically on the shaft 28. With the help of a plate spring 36 the disc 33 is pressed up against the flange 32 and the balls 37 rest in recesses therebetween in the disc and flange at the bottom of peripheral slots 38, 39, respectively in these. The shaft is thus prevented from turning in relation to the turret with a force obtained from the spring force in 36 and the profile of the recesses for the balls 37. The plate spring 36 thus has a function corresponding to the springs 17, 18 in FIG. 1.

The toothed wheel 26 is pivotably journalled on the shaft 28 between the flange 32 and an axially movable disc 40. By means of a pin or bolt 41 passing through the disc 40 and an oblong aperture 42 in the shaft 28, the disc is prevented from rotating on the shaft but can move axially on it.

Inside the shaft 28 is a spring 43 which presses on a piston 44 which in turn presses on the pin 41 and thus forces the disc 40 upward. In this position the toothed wheel 26 is disconnected and the turret can be turned freely, the toothed wheel 26 rolling on the toothed rim 25.

On the sides of the toothed wheel 26, flange 32 and disc 40 are friction surfaces and if the disc 40 is pressed down sufficiently hard, the toothed wheel becomes clamped tightly on the shaft 28 so that the turret is blocked against the toothed rim 25.

This is done with the help of the lever 29, the upper side of which can glide with the help of balls 46 against a stationary disc 45, while the lower side is fixed to the disc 40 by balls 47 in recesses in the lever and disc. This is similar to the connection between the flange 32 and the disc 33. If the lever 29 of the weapon 11 is turned in one direction or the other, therefore, the balls 47 will roll up from their recesses so that the disc 40 is pressed down against the toothed wheel 26 and blocks it.

This occurs against the spring 43 which endeavours to press back the disc 40 to the neutral position. The

spring 40 thus corresponds to the springs 14, according to FIG. 1.

It will be understood that if the plate spring 36 has greater tension than the spring 43, the toothed wheel 26 will be blocked on the shaft 28 during firing. However, this does not prevent the shaft 28 being able to be turned slightly against the spring force from 36 so that the turret can be aimed substantially continuously in spite of the interspersed blocking of the toothed wheel 26 caused by alternate recoil and counter-recoil force in a similar manner as in FIG. 1.

A combination of FIGS. 1 3 is also possible, in which the coupling according to FIG. 3 is fitted on the righthand end of the lever 14 in FIG. 1 instead of the braking block 19. The friction surface 22 is then replaced by the toothed rim 25 according to FIG. 2. At the same time the shaft 28 can be permanently fitted on the end of the arm 14, the plate spring 36 and disc 33 being replaced by the springs 17, 18 on the brackets 20, 21. The link arm 13 must also be altered so that the recoil and counter-recoil force from the weapon can be transmitted to the link arm 29.

We claim:

1. In combination with a foundation and a pivotable weapon turret (l0) turnably mounted thereon about an axis having a firing weapon (1) eccentrically arranged with respect to said turret, means to prevent turret traversing by a torque deriving from the recoil or counterrecoil force of the weapon, which includes means to block the turret against movement in relation to the foundation, and link means (13,14) operatively connected to the weapon to transmit the recoil and counter-recoil forces of the weapon to said blocking means, in which said blocking means comprises a friction coupling composed of first and second coupling sections, the first section (22) being in connection with said foundation and the other second section (19) being connected to the turret, said link means (13,14) including means responsive to the recoil and counter-recoil forces of the weapon to force the second section against the first section, the link means and the friction coefficient of the connection being sufficient to withstand the torque moment on the turret from the recoil and counter-recoil force.

2. In a combination according to claim 1, including a first set of springs (17,18 and 36), journalling the second section in the turret which permit the turret to pivot to a certain extent even when said first section is in blocking position during firing.

3. In a combination according to claim 2, said link means between the weapon (11) and said second section (19) comprising a second set of springs (15,16) to neutralize said second section.

4. In a combination according to claim 3, said first set of springs (l7, 18) being more pre-stressed than the second set (15,16).

5. Pivotable weapon turret according to claim 1, in which said first section comprises a friction surface (22) on the foundation, while the second section comprises a friction block (19) which is pressed against said friction surface by the recoil and counter-recoil force through said link means (13,14),

6. In a combination according to claim 1, said first section comprising a toothed wheel (26) pivotably journalled on a shaft (28) in the turret (10) and in engagement with a toothed rim (25) on the foundation carrying the turret, and the second section comprising at least one friction element (32, 40) which is forced against the toothed wheel by the recoil and counterrecoil force, and thus blocks the turret. 

1. In combination with a foundation and a pivotable weapon turret (10) turnably mounted thereon about an axis having a firing weapon (1) eccentrically arranged with respect to said turret, means to prevent turret traversing by a torque deriving from the recoil or counter-recoil force of the weapon, which includes means to block the turret against movement in relation to the foundation, and link means (13,14) operatively connected to the weapon to transmit the recoil and counter-recoil forces of the weapon to said blocking means, in which said blocking means comprises a friction coupling composed of first and second coupling sections, the first section (22) being in connection with said foundation and the other second section (19) being connected to the turret, said link means (13,14) including means responsive to the recoil and counter-recoil forces of the weapon to force the second section against the first section, the link means and the friction coefficient of the connection being sufficient to withstand the torque moment on the turret from the recoil and counter-recoil force.
 2. In a combination according to claim 1, including a first set of springs (17,18 and 36), journalling the second section in the turret which permit the turret to pivot to a certain extent even when said first section is in blocking position during firing.
 3. In a combination according to claim 2, said link means between the weapon (11) and said second section (19) comprising a second set of springs (15,16) to neutralize said second section.
 4. In a combination according to claim 3, said first set of springs (17, 18) being more pre-stressed than the second set (15, 16).
 5. Pivotable weapon turret according to claim 1, in which said first section comprises a friction surface (22) on the foundation, while the second section comprises a friction block (19) which is pressed against said friction surface by the recoil and counter-recoil force through said link means (13,14).
 6. In a combination according to claim 1, said first section comprising a toothed wheel (26) pivotably journalled on a shaft (28) in the turret (10) and in engagement with a toothed rim (25) on the foundation carrying the turret, and the second section comprising at least one friction element (32, 40) which is forced against the toothed wheel by the recoil and counter-recoil force, and thus blocks the turret. 